Taking some foreign currency to Bali
 

I usually just use ATMS on holiday now but should I take some local currency with me? We deal with British pounds, do they take Indonesian rupiah to pay the visa?

Jollys

oops forgot to mention of to Bali in 2 weeks!!!
Jols

I understand they even take credit cards to pay for the visa now! ATMs are plentiful in Bali. Technically, it is illegal to take rupiah out of Indonesia. So don't bother trying to get rupiah before you go.

Take US DOLLARS to pay the visa. I've been in line with people who didn't have dollars, and they gave them the most awful exchange rate (like, 10 Euros instead of 10 Dollars).

Don't take Rupiah with you. I usually have a couple $100 bills with me 'in case of emergency' as these are easily exchange-able no matter where I am.

Jollys, somehow I received the impression that we'd need US$ cash to pay for the visa, but when we arrived found that AU$ and as Kathie says credit cards were also being taken. We didn't look for an ATM at the airport as our hotel had arranged for a driver to meet us, but presumably one wouldn't have been far away.

ATMs are plentiful in all the major towns and we were able to withdraw and use rupiah throughout our visit. Just make sure to spend all your rupiah on the way out, though, as they won't be much use to you back home.

I just arrived in Jakarta today, and they definitely don't take credit cards. I was in Bali two months ago and don't recall any sign of them accepting them there either.

Frankly, it's not worth the worry, IMO. Bring the $10 or $25 you need with you.

As others have said, there are ATMs everywhere that you can use to get cash once you get your bags.

Michael, Do you mean you tried to use a credit card at the Visa on Arrival counter and they wouldn't accept it? If so this is a major change as previously they would accept Visa and MasterCard (but not Amex).

No, I always have cash. I've never seen any indication that they accept cards, and I've never seen anyone use a credit card to pay for the visa. I visit Indonesia four to six times a year, and the idea they take credit cards for the visa is a complete surprise to me.